Abstract:
A scientifically developed catchment area
treatment (CAT) plan and optimized pattern of crop areas
may be the key for sustainable development of water
resource, profitability in agriculture and improvement of
overall economy in drought affected Bundelkhand region
of Madhya Pradesh (India). In this study, an attempt has
been made to develop a CAT plan using spatial variation of
geology, geomorphology, soil, drainage, land use in geographical
information system for selection of soil and water
conservation measures and crop area optimization using
linear programming for maximization of return considering
water availability, area affinity, fertilizers, social and
market constraints in Benisagar reservoir project of Chhatarpur
district (M.P.). The scientifically developed CAT
plan based on overlaying of spatial information consists of
58 mechanical measure (49 boulder bunds, 1 check dam, 7
cully plug and 1 percolation tank), 2.60 km2 land for agro
forestry, 2.08 km2 land for afforestation in Benisagar dam
and 67 mechanical measures (45 boulder bunds and 22
gully plugs), 7.79 km2 land for agro forestry, 5.24 km2
land for afforestation in Beniganj weir catchment with
various agronomic measures for agriculture areas. The
linear programming has been used for optimization of crop
areas in Benisagar command for sustainable development
considering various scenarios of water availability, efficiencies,
affinity and fertilizers availability in the command.
Considering present supply condition of water,
fertilizers, area affinity and making command self sufficient
in most of crops, the net benefit can be increase to Rs.
1.93 crores from 41.70 km2 irrigable area in Benisagar
command by optimizing cropping pattern and reducing
losses during conveyance and application of water.
